I clicked on your art Thread because you spell Karl with a K! That already gave you a big up!
Then I saw you art and I thought: this is amazing,
the colours and the blurs you use is great.
I will have to say the people pictures are better than you landscape ones, but its a close call, they are both fantastic!
I assume you are not using a mouse?
You only use flash and photoshop???
Thanks again Karl with a K

At 3/22/09 07:24 AM, monkeybars wrote:
I clicked on your art Thread because you spell Karl with a K! That already gave you a big up!
Then I saw you art and I thought: this is amazing,
the colours and the blurs you use is great.
I will have to say the people pictures are better than you landscape ones, but its a close call, they are both fantastic!
I assume you are not using a mouse?
You only use flash and photoshop???
Thanks again Karl with a K

Thank you!
I just spell my name with a K, whats the big deal about that? haha
I use a wacom when working digitaly yes, and i mostly work in Photoshop and maybe Flash. But sometimes i use Artrage and Open Canvas aswell

The piece looks pretty good as it is, but do feel like the open space between them is a bit bright compared to the lighting around them. I feel my eyes being pulled towards the center of the wall instead of looking at the two lovely gentlemen talking. I don't know anything about photoshop so it might be too late to do anything about it, but you could try lightening or changing the color of their clothes or their chairs, to make them pop a little more

At 3/22/09 01:31 PM, Captain-Ben wrote:
The piece looks pretty good as it is, but do feel like the open space between them is a bit bright compared to the lighting around them. I feel my eyes being pulled towards the center of the wall instead of looking at the two lovely gentlemen talking. I don't know anything about photoshop so it might be too late to do anything about it, but you could try lightening or changing the color of their clothes or their chairs, to make them pop a little more

I like the third one the most. The first one lacks contrast, so the person (looks like Bjõrk, btw) blends in with the background too much, and I don't really understand what's happening in the second pic :/

That's not to say that they're bad pictures. As far as I'm concerned, you're still the best artist in the Art Forums.

At 3/24/09 04:09 PM, idiot-monarch wrote:
I like the third one the most. The first one lacks contrast, so the person (looks like Bjõrk, btw) blends in with the background too much, and I don't really understand what's happening in the second pic :/

I thought the level of contrast between the face and the coat would be enough, i didnt think the jacket would have to pop out. I'm gonna test a few variations, see if anything gets better.
The second one IS a bit confusing, i did it without any planning or thinking, haha. I was hoping someone here would give me some good tip about what to do with it.

That's not to say that they're bad pictures. As far as I'm concerned, you're still the best artist in the Art Forums.

im sorry if this is being twaty, but what happned to the people comenting in the art forums? I've been going through most of the active threads here, and to find even a trace of qritique or tip on how to improve seems almost impossible. Why?

At 5/6/09 05:08 PM, LaserKarl wrote:
im sorry if this is being twaty, but what happned to the people comenting in the art forums? I've been going through most of the active threads here, and to find even a trace of qritique or tip on how to improve seems almost impossible. Why?

At 4/6/09 09:16 AM, LaserKarl wrote:
Yippie-de-doo! Anyone in here up for some WIP-commenting?! Yoddelidaa!

Wow, I totally forgot it was you who drew this. I don't think I've commented in your thread before but you've got some pretty great stuff in here; I'm always impressed with people who can pull off a digital painting style because I just can't seem to get the hang of it.

I think somebody already mentioned that the perspective on the limbs doesn't seem consistent, which I think it is, but, it's not a particularly glaring problem either. Part of what I think is making it appear off is that the limbs all have a rounded cylindrical appearance to them, so, it's not like a regular body where we would see and recognize different planes of the figure as it was rotated. You did do a good job of trying to minimize that problem though by indicating contours through highlights.

My only other criticism/suggestio would be that the left side of the picture seems a bit empty. Maybe add some clouds over there as well?

im sorry if this is being twaty, but what happned to the people comenting in the art forums? I've been going through most of the active threads here, and to find even a trace of qritique or tip on how to improve seems almost impossible. Why?

Part of the problem with the Art forum generally is that most forum-goers don't comment on good artwork. Bad stuff gets a LOT of attention on here (I don't want to name names, but I'm sure you can figure out which threads I'm referring to). I really do wish that instead of people leaving 4 or 5 negative comments on something that was badly draw in under five minutes that they'd take time to find one GOOD piece that they like in a thread somewhere and leave a positive comment about that. But, that doesn't seem to be the way it works around here.

What that means for you though, and what I tell lots of new people who post here is that if you're not getting comments then it means you're likely doing a pretty good job at whatever it is you're doing, because if you sucked, chances are someone on here would let you know. So, at least what I tell myself all the time is no comments are generally a good thing. But, I realize if you're actively seeking feedback and criticism, then just know people don't think you suck isn't very helpful.

Apart from that, my own experience for when I leave comments / criticism / suggestions has been that I tend to only do it 1) for people I like on here (could be for their art or just because I think they're n ice people); 2) for artwork that I think is interesting, has potential, or involves some really cool concept; and 3) for artwork that is not very good, but shows a sincere effort so that I know if I do make a suggestion, the person will actually appreciate it and give it some thought. I don't know if it's like that for everybody else, but, maybe you're just not hitting the right combination of interests for people on the forum at the moment?

Anyway, you might want to bring the topic up at the Art Forum Lounge. Maybe we could start a thread specifically for critiquing polished artwork? Although, I'm guessing someone has to have tried that at some point.

At 4/6/09 09:16 AM, LaserKarl wrote:
Yippie-de-doo! Anyone in here up for some WIP-commenting?! Yoddelidaa!

Part of what I think is making it appear off is that the limbs all have a rounded cylindrical appearance to them, so, it's not like a regular body where we would see and recognize different planes of the figure as it was rotated.

Ah, that might be it. Though I think i've made his right 'thigh' a bit too short, even though its foreshortened and have a simple shape. Good point, thank you!

My only other criticism/suggestio would be that the left side of the picture seems a bit empty. Maybe add some clouds over there as well?

I never found that distracting until you mentioned it, but i think you're right, it is a bit boring with such a big area of the same color. Maybe even just adding a slight gradient would help now that i think of it. Thanks.

im sorry if this is being twaty, but what happned to the people comenting in the art forums? I've been going through most of the active threads here, and to find even a trace of qritique or tip on how to improve seems almost impossible. Why?

I really do wish that instead of people leaving 4 or 5 negative comments on something that was badly draw in under five minutes that they'd take time to find one GOOD piece that they like in a thread somewhere and leave a positive comment about that. But, that doesn't seem to be the way it works around here.

An opinion shared with me. It all comes down to the mentality of the internet community i think. Its like when you see a cool video or an image of something unbelivable, but nothing impossible, right away theres some dude that says its fake, just for the hell of it. To appear better than the rest. Same goes for the bad stuff here i think. To point out that a posted picture of someones "art" sucks is just plain moronic, if it sucks, everyone else know that, and if the artist doesnt you can't help him improve anyway. You have just wasted your time.

Apart from that, my own experience for when I leave comments / criticism / suggestions has been that I tend to only do it 1) for people I like on here (could be for their art or just because I think they're n ice people); 2) for artwork that I think is interesting, has potential, or involves some really cool concept; and 3) for artwork that is not very good, but shows a sincere effort so that I know if I do make a suggestion, the person will actually appreciate it and give it some thought. I don't know if it's like that for everybody else, but, maybe you're just not hitting the right combination of interests for people on the forum at the moment?

I dont think i have a style or what ever that doesnt fit in here, I dont know what keeps people from posting their ideas and views on my stuff. Maybe its because i seldom follow up on the critique they give by updating my stuff, but that doesnt mean i dont take what they say in concideration. Every piece i do i look back upon from time to time, and when i do i remember the opinions I got on that specific piece, and try to keep myself from doing the same mistake again.

Also, I tend to comment with constructive criticism the times i come here (not so often any longer though), going with the same 3 reasons you have mainly, and i hope that would have some effect on the rest of the group here. More comments that have time putten in to them would help this forum to grow and get a good reputation, wich would mean that more good artist would post here.

Anyway, you might want to bring the topic up at the Art Forum Lounge. Maybe we could start a thread specifically for critiquing polished artwork? Although, I'm guessing someone has to have tried that at some point.

As Captain-Ben said, there is allready a thread like that. But just the fact that we need a specific thread for criticism bothers me. I think this whole forum should be meant for improvement aswell for exhibition.

The threads there just so if you have one piece in particular that you want critiqued, you can post it there instead of making a new thread for it :)

I'll try and comment on some of your work more often, i love your stuff, not sure why i don't already :)

I really liked the last piece you posted, the guy who's head is splitting, really cool concept, but i feel like the background guy on the left in the picture got neglected a little, you probably deliberately left him rough to keep attention on the main character, but it sort of comes off as unfinished rather than just background when you look at the picture while it's bigger, when it's smaller it looks fine. I think it might just be his hair, looks a little solid.

And also i don't know the slightest thing about photoshop, but i think the piece would be a little stronger if you did something to make the light coming out of his head a little more "light" like, with ambient light coming off of it. I'm just thinking of the allgunsblazing uses light, but i don't know if that's something that's easily done or not.

At 5/6/09 07:02 PM, LaserKarl wrote:
As Captain-Ben said, there is allready a thread like that. But just the fact that we need a specific thread for criticism bothers me. I think this whole forum should be meant for improvement aswell for exhibition.

Thanks for the time spent on writing that long post btw.

Yeah, once you make art and put it up here, I think its free game, it becomes everyones...[ I dont mean stealing it, however ]
I think the reasons people dont leave quality comments, for one, its hard to articulate art things, you always have to say words like "good" "bad" Really is very limiting, also, people dont want to sound long winded, and people dont usually read long winded responses, it hurts their little minds

But as someone said on here earlier [somthing about people not relating to your work] I dont think its a style issue, thats the problem with originality, if its truely original...its hard for others to relate to..

all that being said, you really are a great artist. I can see why my work pissed ya off a little, heh. but, Im gonna be going through and looking at some of your back pages here [alot of back pages] just to see whats up.

At 5/6/09 07:48 PM, Captain-Ben wrote:
The threads there just so if you have one piece in particular that you want critiqued, you can post it there instead of making a new thread for it :)

It would work if people kept their stuff in one thread aswell i think.

I'll try and comment on some of your work more often, i love your stuff, not sure why i don't already :)

Haha, thanks i appriciate it.

I really liked the last piece you posted, the guy who's head is splitting, really cool concept, but i feel like the background guy on the left in the picture got neglected a little, you probably deliberately left him rough to keep attention on the main character, but it sort of comes off as unfinished rather than just background when you look at the picture while it's bigger, when it's smaller it looks fine. I think it might just be his hair, looks a little solid.

I think i understand what you mean. The roughness comes out of the too apparent brush-strokes i think. Its a common mistake i do, and its hard to let go of it since its the way im used to paint digitaly. If i had more solid colors and less roughness in that character it might have been smoother, and that would also have worked better with the hair, wich i made that way to act like a second focus point. Thanks for making me aware of that.

And also i don't know the slightest thing about photoshop, but i think the piece would be a little stronger if you did something to make the light coming out of his head a little more "light" like, with ambient light coming off of it. I'm just thinking of the allgunsblazing uses light, but i don't know if that's something that's easily done or not.

Photoshop isnt that advanced in the way i use it, its kind of how I paint in real life, but more precise and so on.
I had a difficult idea to pull of regarding of the light from the head, that it would be like a glowing slime or something, kind of like radioactive glue, haha. I think making the light stronger would have taken away alot of that feeling. And also it could have taken to much focus in the image, it isnt all about the head.
But i can see what you mean, i didnt get the light-feeling quite the way i wanted it, and it turned out a bit bland.